Bangalore school-boy Ruhaan third in Easykart Italian championship

David Bodapati October 9, 2017

375 1 minute read

Ruhaan Alva with the trophy for finishing third Overall in the Easykart Italian Championship on Sunday. Image courtesy Ruhaan Alva

Castelletto di Branduzzo (Italy), 9 Oct 2017: Ruhaan Alva of Bangalore came a creditable third in the Easykart Italian championship and was awarded a trophy at the prize-distribution function here on Sunday. The Easykart 60 cc races finished last month with 26 pilots in the fray.

After deciding the winners of the Easykart Italia Trophy on the Friuli Venezia Giulia International Circuit in Lignano Sabbiadoro last month, where Ruhaan finished third in the championship, the event according to the well-established tradition, arrived here for this year’s Finale Internazionale, the closing event of the Easykart 2017 season. Even in the Grand Prix Finale, Ruhaan, who just turned 11, came 5th in the International competition. After starting 10^th on the grid he managed a fifth on Sunday.

Before he went to the last rounds (8&9), the Indian was placed fourth in the championship. In the 9-round event Ruhaan garnered 136 points, including three wins, for his third. In fact, he had more wins than the top-two but he was at a disadvantage after missing the first round in March. He was tied with Patrese Lorenzo (136) in the second place. D’urso Daniele came first with 154 points.

In a chat with www.INDIAinF1.com, Umakanth Alva said: “Though he missed out on the first round of the Easy 60 category, since he was competing in Mini 60, he has been fighting it out for the top spot until round 7 where he had a DQ and dropped to 4th place. He has proved himself as a driver to watch out for and all the experience and learning from Italy will take him a long way.”

Supported by Birel Art, the leading Italian kart manufacturer, he had a disappointing start to the weekend. Struggling for pace, he was placed ninth in his group and 19^th overall after the qualifying practice session.

Later, he finished Heat-1 in fifth place after making 14 places and was leading in Heat-2 when he was shunted off the track, but recovered to cross the line in eighth. In Heat-3, he started 10th and finished seventh to qualify for the Finals.

Starting the finals again in 10th spot (on the basis of points accrued during the Heats), Ruhaan put in a determined performance to eventually finish fifth in a tougher field.

eom/with inputs from AP Media Comm.